SBLSD News

In addition to the statewide mask mandate lifting on March 12, the state Department of Health (DOH) released updated Requirements and Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools. The DOH document outlines the remaining requirements for K-12 schools, along with optional measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure in educational settings. Here is a summary of the updates:

Masks

• Optional: Beginning March 12, masks are optional for students and staff in school buildings and on school buses. Our District will not tolerate bullying of any kind based on the choice to wear or not wear a mask. Masks will continue to be provided for those who choose to wear them.
• Required: Masks must be worn in a school’s health room or isolation room. DOH may also require masks during an outbreak within a classroom or extracurricular group.

Staying home

• Required: Individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 must stay home and isolate regardless of vaccination status. Those testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home for a minimum of five days. Students may return to school days 6-10 if they wear a well-fitted mask OR test negative with an antigen or at-home test.

Notification

• Required: We will continue to notify staff, students and families when we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 on site. Those notified of potential exposure should monitor for symptoms.
• We will discontinue contact tracing, unless directed by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department in response to outbreaks.

Testing

• Required: We will continue to ensure access to diagnostic testing for COVID-19 for students and staff.
• Athletic testing and Test to Stay is no longer required.

Optional mitigation measures

• We will continue practice of these optional strategies to help limit the transmission of COVID-19:
• Increased ventilation
• Frequent handwashing
• Cleaning and disinfecting
• Social distancing to the degree practical

We remain committed to providing a safe environment for our students and staff by continuing to follow state and local health requirements and guidelines. Thank you for supporting our students, staff and community.

For National School Breakfast Week, we’re encouraging more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast. SBLSD’s Child Nutrition Services offers nutritious school breakfasts, complete with fruit and low-fat or fat-free milk, to ensure students are fueled for learning every school day. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is allowing all students to receive school breakfast and lunch for free, without an application, so it’s a great time for families to give school breakfast a try.

The Lakeridge Middle School Drama Club performs Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR, an adaption of the original Broadway production and motion picture that tells the classic story of Belle and the Beast. The musical features some of the most popular songs ever written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Menken and Tim Rice.

• March 18 and 19 at 7 p.m.
• Lakeridge Middle School, 5909 Myers Rd E
• Tickets sold at the door: $7 general; $5 students w/ASB card and ages 10 and under

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). Authorized performance materials supplied by MTI.

Spring forward March 13

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 13 at 2 a.m. Remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

Spring Break

Schools are closed for Spring Break March 28-April 1.

View all of our 2021-22 key dates.

Spring elementary parent-teacher conferences will take place March 22 and 23, when students will have early dismissal with grab-and-go lunches. These conferences are reserved to meet with families whose children might be struggling academically, socially or emotionally. Schools will communicate directly with families about conference details. If you have questions, please contact your child’s school.

Do you want to review and understand the health content for grades 6 through 12? The District invites families to preview teaching materials for HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum for select classes on April 12 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the District’s Central Office (1202 Wood Ave in Sumner).

Preview curriculum for students enrolled in:

• Grades 6 and 7: HIV/AIDS
• Grade 8: Second semester Skills for Life (HIV/AIDS)
• Grade 9: Health classes (health content)
• Grades 10-12: Applicable classes (HIV/AIDS)

As this curriculum covers sensitive topics, Washington state law and SBLSD board policy require that families are provided the opportunity to preview these lessons. Families wishing to exclude their child from the state-required HIV/AIDS curriculum must preview this curriculum and sign the exclusion form.

Sumner High School ASB is sponsoring the 16th annual Benefit Night Talent Show and Dinner Auction next month. This year’s beneficiary is longtime Maple Lawn Elementary Teacher Seah Eggum, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more information about the beneficiary, ways to donate and purchase tickets to the events.

• March 23: Benefit Night Talent Show, 7 p.m., Sumner High School Performing Arts Center; $8
• March 24: Benefit Night Dinner Auction, 6:30 p.m., Sumner High School Gym; $20

To purchase tickets, call the SHS Bookkeeper at (253) 891-5527. Learn more about Benefit Night, including ways to donate.

The public is invited to attend School Board study sessions and meetings, which are held both virtually and in person. Please note that dates, times and locations are subject to change. Agendas are published a day prior to each meeting.

Study session highlights: March 9

• Presentation: Maintenance & Operations Department
• Presentation: Elementary STEM
• Report: Title 1 and Learning Assistance Program
• Meeting recording (passcode: #2L0KE8y)

Board meeting: March 23

• 6 p.m. at Maple Lawn Elementary (230 Wood Ave)
• Virtual meeting link (passcode: 060412)
• Register for in-person or virtual public comment
• Submit comments online

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